Never one for half measures, Gates’ video has clearly been well staged compared to the many other self-made efforts uploaded to Youtube (including Mark Zuckerberg’s).

In true form, the world’s second richest man says he wants to ‘do it better than it’s been done’, and built a contraption to pour the ice water over his head.

The Microsoft founder also said: ‘I’m glad to give to ALS, it’s a great cause.’

Bill Gates, doing it for charity (Picture: Youtube / Bill Gates)

Gates nominates Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla Motors), Ryan Seacrest and TED curator Chris Anderson to take part in the challenge that raises money for ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after a baseball player who career was ended by the disease in 1939.

Participants dump a bucket of ice water over their head (usually without using a metal girder and not on their own private dock, like Mr Gates), donate $10 to the ALS Association, and nominate three other people to take part.

The disease is a progressive neurogenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord eventually leading to paralysis and death.